Issue 5 - March 2025

THE PROSPECTOR

THE NORMALIZATION OF ALL-NIGHTERS

FEATURES

Ethan Chu’s Passion for Aviation pg.12

SPORTS

Scoring in Subjective Sports pg. 20

ISSUE 5, VOL 67 MAR. 2025

Exploring the prevalence of all-nighter culture and its health detriments

IN THIS ISSUE

news

Mosaic America ........................... 04 The Effects of President Trump’s Government Restructuring .......... 06

opinions

The Ethics Of Historical Fiction .......................................... 08

Cho’s Anti-Drug 14: Grace Advocacy

Should Conceptual Art be

Considered Art? .......................... 10

features

Ethan Chu’s Passion for Aviation ...12

sports

Scoring in Subjective Sports ...... 20 Athlete of the Month: Prutha

Grace Cho’s Anti-Drug Advocacy

Bharadwaj .................................. 22

Journey ......................................... 14

lifestyles

investigations

Pursuing Alternatives to Four-Year College .......................................... 16 Conceptual Art be 10: Should Considered Art?

The Normalization of All-Nighters ................................ 24 The Evolution of Love Songs in the Music Industry ........................... 26

postscript

Prospector Staffers as Flowers .. 28 Shamrock Scavenger Hunt ........ 29 Column: Jack of All Trades ........ 30

29: FRONT COVER DESIGNED BY MIYA WIDMAN BACK COVER DESIGNED BY MIYA WIDMAN

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt

THE PROSPECTOR

STAFF 2024-2025

editors-in-chief Amrita Brar Miya Widman Nitya Dhulipala news editor Saba Sharifolnasabi opinions editor Ashley Qi features editor Celine Zhang investigations editor Madalina Zheng sports editor Katie Mak

social media managers Nimrit Gandhi Rosa Lee business manager Victoria Hunt online editors Aaron Luc Angela Kim Chloe Choe Evelyn Liao Mason Lien Rebecca Wawda Scarlett Guy Zain Haseeb

lifestyles editor Atrisa Rahgozar postscript editor Cathy Wu copy editors Laura Chen Nikhil Krishnaswamy Yeechen Pang

writers Alexander Liu Benjamin Liu Brian Kuo Hailey Ryu Joe Zheng Joyce Lee Katie Kim Noah Kang Shaona Das

website manager Anshika Jain advisor Ann Shriver-Peck Editorial Policy

“The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

“The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

Contact Us: chsprospector@gmail.com The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014

A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dear Reader, Even with the sun shining and the flowers in full bloom, this time of year has become synonymous with the many anxieties the average high school student faces. If you’re looking to ease some of your burdens, we invite you to take a break from the chaos of life and take a flip through some articles that may pique your interest!

On page 8, Anshika Jain and Chloe Choe dissect the ethicality of historical fiction and whether authors reserve the right to alter real-life events, using examples from Cupertino High School’s very own literature curriculums.

As the senior class of 2025 steadily approaches graduation, Rebecca Wawda, Joyce Lee and Evelyn Liao examine various alternatives to four-year college on page 16. From joining the military to attending trade school, these options challenge the stereotypical path that the Bay Area mindset tends to favor.

In the midst of the spring sports season, Aaron Luc shares the journey of the Prospector’s March 2025 Athlete of the Month, Prutha Bharadwaj. From the CHS gym to the regional stage, Bharadwaj has left an indelible legacy on the history of badminton at Cupertino.

This issue, our first-time editors took the reins in producing thoughtfully arranged spreads and detailed articles. We are proud to share these valuable stories and even prouder to showcase our staffers’ hard work.

P.S. Keep an eye out for the hidden shamrocks in each section!

Lots of love, Amrita Brar, Miya Widman, Nitya Dhulipala

NEWS

Mosaic America Mosaic America

Exploring Mosaic America and its approach to planning Women's History Month celebrations

NITYA DHULIPALA

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4 | DESIGNED BY SABA SHARIFOLNASABI

editor-in-chief

omplete with diverse vendors, cultural performances and traditional musicians, organizations spared no expense when it came to the Women’s History Month celebration held on March 22, 2025, at History Park San Jose. This event was co-curated by Mosaic America, History San Jose, La Raza Historical Society, Japanese American Museum of San Jose, Chinese Historical and Cultural Project and other partners. The celebration, and Mosaic America as a whole, is about more than just honoring women — it is about embracing the diverse stories, cultures and contributions that make up our shared history.

For Mosaic America, pulling off an event like this took time,

trust and intentional outreach. The organization approached this project by asking themselves whether women from every background felt considered and included. Simply acknowledging women as a whole is an inadequate approach to providing them the celebration they deserve.

“To have any event that honors the contributions of women, you have to talk about

all women, right?” said Mosaic America founder and Chief Product Officer Priya Das. “That includes [...] storytelling from all of the diverse cultures.

That’s when they turn to Mosaic America.”

Because this event only occurs annually, the organization strives to involve as many groups as possible, consequently increasing the planning time. Ensuring that every individual feels represented is a task easier said than done.

Preparation for this event spans months and involves meticulous planning and coordination with vendors.

As nonprofits are often understaffed, Mosaic America faces a challenge in creating and sustaining momentum with their various projects.

Said Das, “Finding vol-

unteers that are like-minded and who [also want] to do the outreach, make the time, make the energy, understand what it takes to be welcoming of different groups. That is the challenge.”

Mosaic America was founded on the belief that communities thrive when people step outside of their own circles and learn from one another’s stories.

Previously, there weren’t many organizations that focused on bridging different groups together. “[We wanted to share] new perspectives on the things that are dif- ferent between the groups, so that each can understand and celebrate the differences,” said Das. “That is why Mosaic America was formed.

What we felt was that, if we are all living in a place, then we have to

live like neighbors. That means we share in each other’s experiences, be they joyous or sorrowful. [...] So there doesn’t need to be a reason for us to stay within our groups, so to speak.”

A large part of this event centers around celebrating women as the storytellers and keepers of culture.

“The onus and the responsibility of passing on the culture from generation to generation has historically been with [...] women, and so they are also the keepers of the stories of every culture,” Das said.

To ensure every community feels truly represented, Mosaic America does not limit artists and performers to a confined space or time slot. They ask their contributors: What do you need? Whether it is a 50-by-50foot stage for a dance performance or an intimate setting for a spiritual tradition, they work to make that happen.

Mosaic America is largely

run by women, and uplifting underrepresented voices is woven into everything they do.

“Mosaic America is almost 80 to 90% women. It was started by women and is run by a mostly [female] team. And so it just comes naturally that we think about women and representing them,” Das said.

It has always been important for Mosaic America to recognize the roles women have played throughout history, regardless of how large or small.

Said Das, “Sometimes [women] feel like, ‘Oh, we just played a small role in whatever happened, right?’ But if that role doesn’t get counted, then it’s lost to history. [...] You can think of it as a soccer game. [...] The spectators cheer people on, there is the captain, there is the coach, there is the referee.

Each of us plays a role [worth counting]”

NEWS | 5

The Effects of President Trump’s Government Restructuring Exploring how the Trump Administration’s new policies will impact high school students across the country AMRITA BRAR

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6 | THE PROSPECTOR

editor-in-chief

amilies across the nation gathered around their televisions on Jan. 20, 2025, watching as Donald Trump was sworn into the White House for a second term as president of the United States. In the weeks since his inauguration, President Trump has implemented several new policies that have the potential to profoundly reshape the resources available to students at Cupertino High School and beyond.

Since Jan. 20, over 8,000 government and military websites have been pulled from the internet, following a series of executive orders passed by the Trump administration. Officials have stated that these orders are intended to streamline federal government operations and reduce the size and budget

of the existing government to increase its efficiency. In turn, layoffs and dismantling in various federal sectors have become commonplace.

The national parks sector faced significant staff shortages and reduced services in recent weeks. This has resulted in visitor centers closing down, cleanliness and maintenance deteriorating in many areas of the parks and tourism profits decreasing for local communities. Environmental experts have also voiced concerns that these changes may contribute to the rising risk of natural disasters such as wildfires, as well as loss of plant and animal biodiversity.

Keeping these parks orderly is crucial in ensuring the well-being of the land and the organisms that inhabit it, and the recent budget cuts in the federal parks sector obstruct this goal.

With California being home to the largest number of national parks in the country, these policies directly impact residents across the state. “[The layoffs are] a formula for disaster,” said Lincoln Larson, associate professor of

parks, recreation and tourism management at North Carolina State University in an interview with CNR News, an online news site managed by the Office of Marketing and Communications at NC State’s College of Natural Resources. “Whether it’s a lost hiker in a wilderness area that couldn’t be found or a home burned down by a wildfire that couldn’t be extinguished, it’s only a matter of time before bad things start happening due to the lack of staffing.”

Many parts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s web page have also been removed, beginning in late January. Specifically, most mentions of climate change, fossil fuel emissions and scientific information have been wiped. Although the EPA stated that they could not comment on the changes being made or the motives behind them, the removal of information began shortly after President Trump issued an executive order calling for the expansion of the oil, gas and coal economies — all of which are known contributors to global warming.

This information being purged

has direct consequences on the research students are able to conduct both independently and for school, as well as the curriculum students are being taught i n

usurps basic parental authority.”

Although the president’s new policies may potentially alter the future of high school curriculums in the next four years, there are still a variety of other resources students can utilize in place of government agency sites.

“On a state level, California continues to be a leader in climate awareness,” said Stavis.

“So we have a lot of state-level websites that are still intact and we also have a lot of universities that put out good information [for students to access].”

In terms of climate information specifically, students can refer to accredited institutions such as Nature Research — an organization that publishes a monthly academic journal titled “Nature Climate Change” — or Sustainable GW, a research initiative created by students and professors at George Washington University. In terms of gender-affirming resources and abortion information, individuals can refer to a variety of websites including Stanford Health Care, The Trevor Project, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Planned Parenthood

Sorry, page unavailable NEWS | 7

courses such as Advanced Placement Environmental Science.

“One site from the EPA [...] was a mapping site that gave a lot of granular data on air quality in different areas that was taken down during the week we were planning to use [it],” said CHS AP Environmental Science teacher Daniel Stavis.

“We had a n other website that was specific to California that students were able to use, but it took away our ability to zoom out and do analyses of wider areas.”

This led to Stavis having to restructure his lesson plan — just one of many that may need to be modified due to these new regulations.

“I think this is indicative of the federal government shifting its stance and policies towards how concerns around climate change are being addressed, absolutely,” Stavis said.

In addition to the environmental sector, many federal health agencies faced pushback from the Trump administration. Public information regarding gender identity and abortion, for example, has been eradicated from hundreds of sites. Even colleges such as Columbia University and Louisiana State University, as w e l l a s large international corp o rations such as Walmart and Amazon, have abandoned any mention of their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies online. DEI policies emphasize an organization’s commitment to accepting each individual, regardless of race, religion, social class, gender identity or sexual orientation. This erasure marks a critical turning point in the censorship of public information accessible to students and employees nationwide.

Trump explained his reasoning in a statement on the official White House website.

Stated Trump, “Imprinting a n ti-American, subversive, harmful and false ideologies on our Nation’s children not only violates longstanding anti-discrimination civil rights law in many case s , b u t

OPINIONS

THE ETHICS OF HISTORICAL FICTION Examining the moral responsibliities of historical fiction media these narratives are not misrepresenting historical timelines. Behen opening a book, cause writers have the power to one can meet words that shape public perception, they are transport one back by responsible for avoiding the falsiyears. But is the story providing a fication or exaggeration of events. glimpse of what life was like, or is Cupertino High School stuit falsifying reality? dents are introThe accuracy of historical ficduced to histortion is a long-debated topic, ical literature with many throughout N CTIO T I suctheir curricuF IN NO R , O Y lum, with “In HLIT KF LOO F REA THE ET R the Time of E AT W TION O ES TO AUTHO D H the ButW E N OM EC EFL N IT C NG, TH TO BLE D R t e r f l i es” E I N IS A H. WH YTELL BILITY ION A

by Julia .

T R I TRU F STO SPONS AGINAT TRUTH Alvarez O ICS THE RE ITH IM UCING being D HAS ITY W REPRO cessone of EAL IT TO HEN R C N f u l M the asLYN COM works of signed literature readings in the and cineWorld Literature class. Bema having cause the book portrays the refaced criticism for al-life story of a revolution against perpetuating m i s l e a d i n g a dictator, the ethics of presenting narratives. While authors have the event through fictionalized litthe artistic license to deviate from erature is debated. fact for creative purposes, there An author’s credentials to should be a limit to ensure that write historical fiction significantly ANSHIKA JAIN, CHLOE CHOE

W

website manager | multimedia editor

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impact the narrative. The distinction lies between narrators who have had a direct personal connection to the event like Dedé Mirabal, one of the main characters of “In the Time of the Butterflies,” versus those who rely on extensive research but lack relevant experience. These backgrounds shape the authenticity of the story, influencing the audience’s perception. Authors without a direct connection to the event may choose to spotlight fictional characters instead of centering the story around real people.

It may seem like directors and authors should have the power to bend reality to fit their narrative — after all, historical fiction is still fiction, and readers should not take everything at face value.

Sometimes, altering the facts or timeline can help readers discover underrepresented perspectives or provide more reasoning for a person’s actions.

“What we look for in fiction is a reflection of reality, not truth,” World Literature teacher Lynn Chen said. “When it comes to the

In the Time of the Butterflies

cepts the responsibility of sharing knowledge of historical events to readers and acknowledging any changes that deviate from reality.

Due to the nature of the genre, viewers are more inclined to believe that events illustrated in historical fiction are factual.

Conversely, traditional fiction generally portrays completely fabricated events.

The subset of historical fiction that intersects with fantasy also incites the question of whether the lines between fact and fiction are blurred if the story already contains non-realistic elements.

Chloe Gong’s “These Violent Delights” intertwines gang violence and political unrest in 1920s China with a monster that releases bugs. While this latter part of the plotline is entirely a work of imagination, the author still depicts the atmosphere and setting fairly accurately, with a few changes in timeline and landmarks to accom-

modate the monster’s attacks.

In this case, adding fantasy to the book did not take away from its historical elements. Additionally, the main characters of the novel were created by the writer and were not inspired by real people or meant to represent real people, giving the author the flexibility to play around with their relationships, emotions and desires.

One must recognize the importance of balancing fact with fiction when writing, reading or watching historical fiction. Writers should indulge in this media with the awareness that the events listed in the story are not a fully accurate representation of what actually happened and may differ largely from the true events. As long as stories are primarily based on fact and do not falsify any potentially harmful information, this genre can be a great read or watch

OPINIONS | 9

ethics of storytelling, the author has the responsibility to blend reality with imagination and commit to reproducing truth.”

“Titanic,” one of the highest-grossing films of all time, has faced criticism for romanticizing a real-life tragedy. The nephew of William Murdoch, an officer of the ship, objected to the film’s portrayal of Murdoch’s death as a suicide, arguing that it was an inauthentic depiction that damages his heroic reputation. Said Murdoch, “If someone says to you somebody in the family committed suicide when he hadn’t, you take objection,” in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation News.

While altering minor details might be necessary at times, erasing a major part of the story may result in misrepresentation of those with a direct connection to the event. Therefore, authors have a responsibility to avoid perpetuating untruthful narratives.

An author’s note or similar warning can help clear up any historical inaccuracies by elaborating on the true events and why the writer felt the need to make the change. This way, the author ac-

a practical joke, and critics described it as crude and absurd.

After all, the piece contradicted many well-established artistic values, such as skill and aesthetic appeal.

Both “Fountain” and “Comedian” raise the question — what defines art? Are visual beauty and technique essential, or is the act of creative expression enough?

A lesser known example of conceptual art — “‘Untitled’ (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)” by Félix González-Torres — challenges

CELINE ZHANG, MADALINA ZHENG

I

10 | THE PROSPECTOR

features editor | investigations editor

n December 2019, sculptor Maurizio Cattelan duct-taped a banana to a wall. It sold for $6.2 million, making headlines worldwide.

Cattelan, whose other works include a golden toilet titled “America,” may not have expected his work to spark global controversy. However, the piece — aptly dubbed “Comedian” — created a rift in the art community. While it received praise for its originality and humor, critics of “Comedian” refused to consider it art, citing its apparent lack of meaning and creative technique.

Though eccentric, Cattelan’s work was not unprecedented. In 1917, French artist Marcel Duchamp purchased a porcelain urinal from a plumbing store, titled it “Fountain” and submitted it to an art exhibition.

The piece is widely regarded as the earliest example of conceptual art, or artwork whose underlying idea or purpose matters more than its visual appearance.

Lee Akamichi is the founder of Akamichi Studio Prep, an organization that educates high school students on the principles of conceptual art.

Said Akamichi, “[It’s] the ability to [make] connections that were previously unseen by everybody else,

and

thereby [expand] our understanding of what art could be.”

This concept was hardly well-received initially — the exhibition dismissed “Fountain” as

t h e idea that meaningful artistic expression requires technique. The 1991 piece, a colorful pile of candy, acts as a homage to González-Torres’s late partner, Ross Laycock. It also provides social commentary regarding the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome epidemic, which peaked in the early 1990s.

The interactive artwork’s initial weight of 175 pounds represents Laycock’s weight prior to his illness. The pile gradually loses weight as observers remove candy, symbolizing the deterioration of Laycock’s health due to AIDS. In addition, viewers’ willingness to take candy parallels the public indifference towards the AIDS crisis,

“

[‘COMEDIAN’ CREATES] A DIALOGUE, EITHER BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE OR INSIDE THE PERSON’S HEAD. WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE MORE THOUGHTFUL AND LESS COMFORTABLE SOMETIMES, BECAUSE WHEN YOU’RE COMFORTABLE, WHAT’S TO CHANGE?

LEE AKAMICHI

”

which González-Torres’s piece subtly critiques.

Though inventive and layered with meaning, “Untitled” meets few of the criteria for a traditional art piece — it uses no intentional visual tech-

nique, and it is easily recreated by art handlers when in need of replenishment. Nevertheless, its use of

creative e x pression as a vehicle for social commentary is inherently artistic.

The appeal of conceptual art lies in its originality. Mundane objects, as used by Cattelan and Duchamp, intrigue viewers when presented as art. Pieces like “‘Untitled’ (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)” and

“[‘Comedian’ creates] a dialogue, either between two people or inside the

person’s head,” Akamichi said. “We need people to be more thoughtful and less comfortable sometimes, because when you’re comfortable, what’s to change?”

Creating art is not solely a matter of skill, nor is art measurable by restrictive criteria. Instead, art should be evaluated for its creativity, purpose and ability to provoke thought or emotion.

Said Cupertino High School art teacher Amber Steele, “It takes a ton of skills to do photorealism, but I think it takes a different, maybe more important skill to figure out where to take artistic liberties [and] communicate emotional expression.”

After all, a banana and duct tape are not worth millions of dollars — but originality and ingenuity are

OPINIONS | 11

Discussing what qualifies as a piece of art

“Comedian” offer unexpected and unique interpretations of societal behavior. Ultimately, each of these artworks is the first of its kind, paving t h e way for more u n orthodox thinking.

FEATURES

Exploring senior Ethan Chu’s passion for aviation ALEXANDER LIU, KATIE KIM

F 12 | DESIGNED BY CELINE ZHANG

writers

ive hundred tons of metal hurtled over Cupertino High School senior Ethan Chu’s head. As another airliner took off the runway, Chu observed its deafening roar, watching the fuselage, engines and wings flash by in an instant. Later, in his garage, he began recreating the same jet on a smaller scale. Since November 2023, Chu has been building a seven-foot-long remote-controlled plane from the ground up, a miniature Boeing 767-300ER jet.

Chu has been plane-spotting since middle school, going to special parks near airport runways with his father to watch planes take off. “If you’re right next to the planes, you can feel the jet blast and the wake turbulence [...] it kind of rumbles through you,” Chu said. It was in these moments that he became fascinated with planes

and their inner workings.

A true airplane enthusiast, Chu can recognize hundreds of types of planes.

He started off with smaller aircrafts, like building cardboard remote-controlled cars and propeller planes from scratch.

He shared his interest in RC building with others by starting a club called MissionRC with his friends, helping local middle schoolers pursue their own plane-building passions with lessons and equipment. Throughout high school, he took on multiple projects to gradually improve his own engineering skills.

“I built a four-foot wingspan Cessna 172. Cessna 172 was a small propeller plane,” Chu said.

“This is a small flyer that I like to

take out at Cupertino High School on the weekends. Because it crashed all the time, I have to repair the nose already.”

The Boeing plane was Chu’s most ambitious project yet. He started with spreadsheets and dimensions. Once Chu determined the size of the plane, he identified the components, like finding the right model for the engines. Establishing a balance between power and weight was crucial in order to keep the

plane running.

Then, with the app Shaper, Chu created computer-aided design models, using images of the actual Boeing 767 body as reference. This was the most time-consuming aspect of Chu’s project

approval from the Fed- tained from building the plane, eral Aviation Adminis- Chu hopes to pursue an aviatration to fly it, but the tion-related career path in the fulegal work has been te- ture. dious. Said Chu, “[The “I want to be both an aeroplane] is so big [that] space engineer that designs I need to make sure it planes and also a pilot. One of my doesn’t crash when I fly long term goals is to build a plane it, because if it crashes, that I can actually be inside and I don’t know where it fly,” Chu said. might [land].” He is also Perhaps with the next five hunlooking to apply for RC dred tons of metal flashing past insurance, similar to a plane-spotters, he will be the one car or a house. mastering its flight Despite the obstaCOURTESY OF ETHAN CHU | 3D model of Chu’s plane creatcles, Chu remains hopeed on Shaper ful for the plane t o finally get off due to the numerous revisions he the ground. needed to make. He repeatedly Said Chu, “I just 3D printed and revised a frame for kept thinking about the plane, added wires and elec- that final view of the I JUST KEPT THINKING ABOUT THAT trical components, coded his own aircraft flying like, FINAL VIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT FLYlights and flight control scripts and man, that’s what ING LIKE, MAN, THAT’S WHAT MY coated the entire plane in carbon my goal is. That’s GOAL IS [...] AND WE’RE STILL APfiber. Finally, he painted the plane what I want it to be PROACHING THAT MOMENT. and added special patterns — like. What I kept in ETHAN CHU livery — on the side of the plane. my mind. And we’re Each step took anywhere from still approaching weeks to months, and Chu recalls that moment.” struggling with his agenda, overFrom his months of hard work, shooting his deadline by several Chu learned many meaningful lesmonths. sons, especially understanding Throughout the project, he re- attention to detail. He learned that ceived minimal support, making each plane component needed to progress by watching countless be built precisely to ensure everyYouTube vid- thing functioned smoothly.

With the knowledge and experience he ob-

“

FEATURES | 13

eos. Chu took over his parents’ garage and borrowed $2,000 from them to build the plane, working almost entirely on his own.

Chu officially completed his plane on Jan. 3, 2025. He is currently in the process of getting

”

Senior Grace Cho shares her journey with anti-drug advocacy CATHY WU

T

postscript editor

he lingering scent of a heavy vapor reeks in crowded hallways and bathroom stalls, oftentimes neglected by people navigating through campus. Likewise, it is often easy to overlook the struggles students face during their teenage years.

Now a senior at Cupertino High School, Grace Cho is at the forefront of drug-prevention advocacy across Fremont Union High

relentless the addiction was and how difficult it is to quit […] so knowing that a lot of people start smoking at a very early age was shocking to me, and is something that I realized needed to be changed,” Cho said.

Despite having limited knowledge on the topic initially, Cho was eager to learn more about drug use among teens, developing a newfound passion for educating

“

I THINK THESE [SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS] HELPED TO CREATE MORE OF THIS SYSTEMIC CULTURE CHANGE, AND THAT’S PART OF THE INITIAL GOAL TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM.

14 | THE PROSPECTOR

GRACE CHO School District and Santa Clara County. From orchestrating district-wide events to speaking directly to school board members regarding the cause, Cho continues her efforts to spread the anti-drug message throughout the county.

Cho’s journey began in the eighth grade, when her teacher offered her an opportunity to apply for a local teen drug-prevention coalition consisting of other aspiring advocates. From the very beginning, she understood how prone people are to addiction, and that it is not exclusive to a certain demographic.

“I understood just how

part of a bigger movement was what excited me, and that was what appealed most.”

As her interest grew, so did her efforts to collaborate with advocates from different schools, allowing her to hear perspectives from a larger group of people facing and addressing addiction.

Being able to broaden her understanding of the issue simultaneously expanded her passion for it.

”

both herself and others on the matter.

Said Cho, “Just the idea of becoming

“Delving deeper into this movement, I was able to interact with other advocates through local conferences and whatnot [...]. I would be able to converse with people about their experiences and learn about how people in different areas often face an even bigger struggle,” Cho said.

Cho’s contributions only continued from there. Upon entering high school, Cho became the head event organizer for CHS’s Tobacco-Use Prevention Education Program and organized FUHSD’s first “Take Down Tobacco” Multimedia Competition.

This district-wide event served as a platform for students to submit artwork, writing and other forms of media, sharing their personal experiences or interpretations of the drug-use epidemic.

Cho believes that the competition is a powerful way to empower youth to share their perspectives.

Said Cho, “A lot of people had these very personal and [...] very powerful stories, and I think this competition gives them the platform to be able to share and to be able to continue to spread awareness.”

On campus, Cho believes that minor changes can also make a substantial impact — for example, bringing resources

community and shed light on the severity of the issue.

Despite her enthusiasm, Cho feels that advocating can be a lonely endeavor, as she has not seen any of her peers attempt to create the same

impact through the same avenues. However, Cho also believes that there is always a larger community supporting her cause. Said Cho, “There is this huge

movement of people — other advocates out there — who are just as passionate, or just as willing to take next steps in this project.”

As her high school career comes to an end, Cho hopes other students will take the initiative to spread the sentiment and create change for those around them.

She emphasizes that even taking the smallest step is meaningful to this movement.

Said Cho, “Empowering other people is [the] most meaningful, because you’re helping other people and inspiring them, and I think that makes the biggest difference.

Students should set their minds to making their ideas happen”

FEATURES | 15

to the Wellness Center and introducing drug-prevention education directly to the FUHSD Board of Trustees. She hopes to provide a young person’s perspective on the matter and emphasize the importance of spreading the message within the student body.

“I think these [small contributions] helped to create more of this systemic culture change,

and that’s part of the initial goal to spread awareness o f the problem and [...] hopefully initiate more conversation and action around this issue,” Cho said.

Additionally, Cho became an active member of the Santa Clara County Youth Advocate Advisory and the California Youth Advocate Network, both involving community-level advocacy projects aiming to raise awareness about substance abuse. She also advocated for the TUPE Tier 2 Grant, which was used to help local educational agencies implement effective tobacco prevention programs for students across California.

Through her contributions, she hopes to make change in the

INVESTIGATIONS

Pursuing Alternatives to Four-Year College Investigating postsecondary routes outside of traditional universities Students who attend trade school also have a higher guarantee rate online sports editor | writer | online news of receiving a job, due to the high editor demand for skilled workers.

- rade school In contrast to a traditional fourTypically lasting anywhere year college, trade schools are from six months to two years, also known to be less stressful and trade schools are designed to slower-paced. Additionally, tuition prepare students for specific cais considerably more affordable, reers by teaching certain skill with the average trade school sets. These schools offer educatuition ranging around $15,000 tion and professional hands-on rather than the average four-year experience for specific traders, college tuition of $43,505, making prioritizing students’ time — ultitrade school a preferable option mately benefiting students’ future for some students. careers.

Cupertino High School’s colTrade school options range lege counselor Wendy Amick profrom culinary arts to criminal jusvides students guidance on post tice, providing applicants a variety secondary education. of potential career paths. Some “I have conversations with professions even require workpeople who are pursuing [trade ers to attend and earn a diploma school]. We investigate differfrom trade schools, such ent trades that are available. The as mechanics unions that are out there, or barbers. contact information, that sort of R thing,” Amick said.

I TH THE I W T A Students also INGRE THOSE MORE E R A F have access to , AND TYPE O T A H HANDS T resources such JECTS, ED IN TEREST N DOING PRO OSE as pamphlets and , I S, TH R A A FIELD C online resources G ON THAT’S WORKIN F THINGS. T U like Naviance.

O O NG AB E I H TYPES T Naviance is a TRAD REAT THE G T PATHS OF platform made EN DIFFER for high school LS. CK SCHOO I M A Y students to help WEND them plan for college and careers. “We EVELYN LIAO, JOYCE LEE, REBECCA WAWDA

”

16 | DESIGNED BY MADALINA ZHENG

T

”

util i z e Naviance to help them research different trades that they might be interested in,” Amick said.

For those who are less interested in pursuing education in a classical setting, trade school can lead to greater success, with the curriculum mainly focusing on hands-on work.

“I think it’s a great option for many people,” said Amick. “Those great with their hands, and [who] are more interested in [...] projects, working on cars, those types of things. That’s the great thing about [the] different paths of trade schools.”

Unfortunately, trade school faces an unfair stigma and is often considered “inferior” to traditional four-year colleges, discouraging students from pursuing trade school. Trade schools are often designed for students to pursue a blue-collar career, which are commonly looked down upon due

mies combine traditional training mation on applying to a military with an academic program for the academy as it is for a four-year cadet’s chosen major. Tuition is college. free and upon graduation, cadets “I was good on my own. I think must serve eight years in the mili- as long as people were there to tary — five years of active duty and answer questions when I had one, three years of reserve — starting I think that was good enough for as a second lieutenant, the entry me, but [...] that’s also because I level rank for military officers. did a lot of research beforehand,” Senior Angela Choi was influ- Choi said. “[...] If I were to just go enced to apply after she attended straight into the application withthe Summer Leaders Experience, out any prior knowledge to how a week-long summer camp host- the whole system works, I think I ed by Military Academy cadets to would have struggled a lot.” provide potential applicants with Aside from the application an introduction to living at West process, living and learning at Point. West Point doesn’t offer fra- military academies is also vastly ternities or sororities — instead, different from that of a four-year students view one another as ex- college. Cadets follow a strict tended family. and rigorous schedule, engage “[...] I think one thing that re- in different pathways within their ally drew me into actually apply- education and adhere to rules reing and deciding to go there was garding their social and romantic the sense of community and the lives. Aside from taking classes fact that even though [my squad] for their majors, which students didn’t even know each other that pick after their second semester, well, everyone was supporting cadets also learn to become soleach other,” Choi said. “That kind diers and officers through courses of environment was really some- that teach weapon familiarization, thing that I look forward to in any land navigation, military protocol place I go, and West Point was and tactical problem solving. that one place that Said Choi, “I had all that.” think the most CHS encourdifferent part ` THAT KIND OF ages students to is just the comENVIRONMENT apply to a military mitment [...] during WAS REALLY SOMEacademy.

Army the school year THING THAT I LOOK Reserve recruiters and after you FORWARD TO IN ANY visit each spring graduate. [...]

PLACE I GO, AND WEST and pamphlets During the sumPOINT WAS THAT ONE for various acadmer before you PLACE THAT HAD ALL emies can be go into a new THAT. found in the colgrade, you have ANGELA CHOI lege and career to go through difcenter. However, beferent trainings. So cause applications for milithis year, when I go there tary academies differ greatly from for the first time, I have to go four-year college, requiring both through a six week basic traina nomination from an authorized ing. [...] In other colleges, you nominee and a physical fitness don’t take PE, but at West Point and medical examination, CHS is you have to take swimming classunable to provide as much infor- es and self defense and all these

“

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INVESTIGATIONS | 17

to factors such as low income.

Contrary to these beliefs, trade schools do offer job opportunities that lead to higher-level positions, challenging the stereotype.

“You can make [...] over six figures easily, and especially those that are in the trades,” s a i d Amick. “ S o immediately out the gate, y o u ’ r e making money.

So you work as an apprentice, you go along, and then you become a journeyman, legitimate levels, and a journeyman continues to work and get experience on the job. Then again, you’re making money, instead of paying money to go to college or getting loans out to pay for that.”

While only about 10% of seniors at CHS do decide to take a non-college path, which includes attending trade school, the post-secondary education that a student pursues ultimately depends on the student’s individual learning habits and personal development. Said Amick, “It’s a great path for the right person, just like college would be a great path for the right student.”

Military/ROTC Instead of attending a fouryear college, students can apply to one of the five federally funded military academies in the United States — U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy or U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Military acade-

18 | THE PROSPECTOR

PE courses. And then there’s also military science courses I have to take.”

Choi also encourages fellow CHS students to apply. “[...] I think the application process is [...] a really good experience,” Choi said. “All that work you have to go through is something that will be an important part of your life.”

Aside from attending a military academy, students can also choose to enter the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at a university that offers it. ROTC covers tuition, but students must balance military training with school work and serve eight years immediately upon graduation.

Students can also join the military directly. Individuals are required to have a high school diploma, pass a fitness test and be a U.S. citizen.

Additionally, some foreign countries require mandatory military enlistment, training and service. For example, all male Singaporean citizens are required to enlist upon turning 18. For senior Jasper Khoo, that means forgoing his first two years of college for military train-

ing and service.

“I would start [enlistment] in November, but I’m planning on enlisting

earlier so that I can finish in May or June, so that I can attend college after my enlistment is over,” Khoo said.

Khoo had conflicting choices on when to apply to college, but ultimately settled on applying during his senior year, along with the rest of his classmates. “[...] After talking it through with my parents, I decided to apply and then ask the colleges for a two-year deferral if I got in, which has worked decently well so far,” Khoo said. “I think the application part is mostly the same. I still have to write the same essays and pay the fees and all that. But I think the difference is what happens after I get a decision. I have to contact the school and [inform them] about my predicament and then sort it out from there.”

Singapore is one of the few countries that requires enlistment immediately upon high school graduation. It is uncommon but not unheard of for CHS to aid a student in Khoo’s situation.

Said Khoo, “I don’t think there’s much else [CHS] could have done, because I think they already provide a lot of resources for just applying to college, which gives me more of a security after my enlistment period has ended.”

Despite the differences between his enlistment plan and the more traditional four-year college pathway, Khoo emphasized the opportunity to learn self-discipline and self-reliance.

“I think the biggest thing is that I’ll be older, which I think would help,” Khoo said. “Maybe [I’ll] mature more,

and also in the sense that maybe [I’ll] have more time to process [and] learn information.”

Military training often provides cadets and students with strong character development and leadership skills, making military academies and enlistment an optimal path for some CHS students.

Community College Another popular alternative to a four-year university after graduating from high school is attending community college — two-year programs where students can earn an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree. The California Community College system, consisting of 116 colleges, is the largest system of higher education in the United States.

According to Wendy Amick, Cupertino’s College and Career Advisor, almost 20% of Tino students attend community college.

The affordability and flexibility of community college offers many benefits to students, especially to those who are unsure about their future career paths.

Kaitlyn Lam, a 2021 Tino alumna, earned four associate degrees from De Anza College from 20212024. She is currently studying at the University of San Francisco, soon to be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

Said Lam, “I started out my senior year while in lockdown. I felt that there were a lot of changes going on and that I wasn’t ready to take that step to move out away from family. [...] And even without applying, I knew I was uncertain with which major I wanted to go into.”

Ryan Yi, who graduated from CHS in 2024, made the decision to attend community college early on. As part of Tino’s Advancement Via Individual Determination pro-

gram, he received guidance from mentors in his decision-making process for higher education.

“My primary reasons for choosing community college [were] due to financial issues in both short and long term,” said Yi. “Short term, I wanted to attend college without straining my parents too much [...].

Long term, I wanted to save money for the school I’m transferring to so I can [take] all the necessary

“

”

“Since I didn’t choose to go the CSU and UC route that De Anza’s pathway would have offered, I had to research a lot on each school’s deadline, and their required materials.”

The transfer application process required Lam to utilize several platforms such as the Common Application and Scoir, and to ask professors for a letter of recommendation.

“College is different from high school where most professors have little incentive to get to know you, and the responsibility is yours to reach out to get to know them,” said Lam. “I was fortunate to have a few professors that I connected enough with that agreed to write my recommendation, but this is a difficult task because as a new student, you’ll likely only have had this professor one time, and it’s hard to make your presence known within a 12-week quarter.”

F r o m flexibility to affordability, community college provides numerous benefits for students of all

pathways towards a higher education

INVESTIGATIONS | 19

so I ended up taking classes with the same groups of people for most of my time there.”

The California Community College System also offers opportunities to transfer to Cal State Universities or Universities of California.

Students can earn an Associate Degree for Transfer and either apply through the Transfer Admission Guarantee program, where students can receive guaranteed admission to select schools should they meet the GPA reINSTEAD OF FEELING quirement, or through the UC LIKE YOU’RE COMPETING transfer application.

WITH YOUR PEERS, EV“The application process ERYONE WORKED TOGETH- can feel pretty stressful, ER TO HELP EACH OTHER and it kind of felt like I was TRANSFER TO A GOOD going back in time to seCOLLEGE. nior year college apps, ELAN TRAN but I think the community college environment was very different from high school — especially Tino,” said classes at De Tran. “Instead of feeling like you’re Anza for free while also saving up competing with your peers, everymoney through part time [work].” one worked together to help each De Anza College’s Promise other transfer to a good college.

Program allowed Yi and many We peer reviewed each other’s other full-time students to attend essays, worked together to find community college for their first good extracurriculars and studied two years free. together to make sure we all did Though De Anza, like most well in classes.” community colleges, does not Students can also apoffer on-campus housing, stu- ply to transfer to a four-year dents are able to find community private institution after one through student organizations and or two years of community classes. Yi is currently part of De college. These students comAnza’s student government, and plete a transfer application, and 2022 Tino graduate and current the credits from courses they took University of California, Berkeley in community college can apply to student Elan Tran was part of De a degree at their new institution.

Anza’s Medical Outreach Associ“I only applied to private ation. schools because I was over“However, in my personal whelmed with my responsibiliexperience, I made most of my ties during the fall quarter at De friends through classes,” said Anza and private schools set their Tran. “As a Biology major, we were transfer application deadlines at required to attend labs in person around February [or] March, for most days of the week in order at least a month after the CSU to fulfill our transfer requirements, and UC deadlines,” said Lam.

SPORTS

SUBJECTIVE SCORING: IN THE JUDGE’S EYES Diving deeper into the scoring within the subjective sports of gymnastics, dance and cheer ROSA LEE, HAILEY RYU

A

20 | DESIGNED BY KATIE MAK

social media manager | writer

lthough scores in athletic competitions are typically determined by numeric scales, such as goals scored or the duration of a lap, some sports cannot be scored using conventional methods. Specifically, gymnastics, dance, cheer and figure skating utilize subjective scoring, in which scores are influenced by judges’ opinions on the athletes’ performances.

Cupertino High School competes in several artistic sports, including dance, cheer and gymnastics. For all three of these sports, athletes are judged based on various criteria, including the difficulty and visual appearance of their routines. However, the consistency of these criteria can differ based on the judging panel on a specific day or event. For example, judges may disagree on the impact of a performance due to the subjectiveness of rating a performer visually. Preferences for certain themes can also impact placements; for example, some

judges prefer bold, energetic performances whereas others value calmer shows.

In the case of gymnastics, an a t h lete’s ultimate score is a superscore comprisi n g the individual difficulty and execution points, minus any neutral deductions. Neutral deductions

scored on a perfect 10 scale, with points being deducted for missing skills or faults, but with minimum difficulty requirements.

In the recent Paris 2024 Olympics, the gymnastics event incited controversy surrounding Jordan Chiles and her placement. Chiles, a 23-year-old American gymnast,

are unrelated to the performance itself and occur when a gymnast makes a technical violation, such as stepping out of bounds. The execution score is judged on a scale of 10 points. Similarly, the difficulty score is a sum of the point values of each move in a performance. Moves can range from 0.1 to one point; the more demanding and complex the move, the more points attributed to it in professional gymnastics. At the high school and collegiate level, gymnasts are

originally finished fifth in floor exercise. Later, her coach pointed out an error in evaluating the difficulty of a move in Chiles’ routine, increasing her score from 13.666 to 13.766. This rise of 0.1 points bumped Chiles’ position onto the podium from fifth to third place. However, after much discussion and debate amongst the judges, Chiles had her score reverted back to 13.666 and lost her imminent bronze medal.

Chiles experienced immense

emotional turmoil due to this erroneous judgment. Although gymnastics scoring does rely on a structured set of difficulty and execution points, the judges themselves have the final say regarding the small details of a performance.

Similar to gymnastics, cheer performances are scored on several components, such as stunts, choreography, jumps and tumbling.

T y p i cally, each category is scored on a scale from one to 1 0 , and each is weighted differently

t h e only way for teams to ensure consistent results is to prac-

tice diligently.

“When you compete, there will always be times where you are scored inaccurately, but it helped our team to work harder and grow together,” Huh said.

Having a stronger similarity to the system used when scoring for cheer rather than that of gymnastics, dance is judged on assorted criteria including choreography, execution and performance.

Dance is considered both an art form and a sport, combining the athleticism of any other sport and the artistic freedom of expression. Because artistry is an essential part of dance, the personal preferences of judges play a major role in determining a dancer’s fate.

A typical score sheet is divided into categories such as choreography, which assesses style, movement and visual impact; execution, which evaluates technique and movement quality; and performance, which is judged based on a dancer’s showmanship. Each of the four categories is weighted differently depending

on the competition, but all routines are scored petitions they competed in, but they took home second place at nationals.

Like many other sports, outside factors and biases can affect scoring as well.

Said Kim Caldwell, longtime coach of the Golden Spurs Dance Team at CHS, “The biggest thing is to try to keep your opinion out of it and go based on only w h a t

“

THE BIGGEST THING IS TO TRY TO KEEP YOUR OPINION OUT OF IT AND GO BASED ON ONLY WHAT YOU SEE AND ALSO NOT COMPARE ONE TEAM TO THE NEXT. [...] I THINK SOMETIMES SOME JUDGES JUDGE BASED ON, ‘OKAY, THIS SCHOOL ALWAYS PLACES SO THEY MUST BE REALLY GOOD, AND SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO SCORE THEM HIGHER,’ WHERE THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.

KIM CALDWELL

”

you see and also not compare one team to the next. [...] I think sometimes some judges judge based on, ‘Okay, this school always places so they must be really good, and so that means I need to score them higher,’ where that may not be the case”

SPORTS | 21

based on difficulty level.

A team’s total score depends on the scores of all individual judging categories and the team’s penalty points, if any.

Cheerleader Elly Huh, member of CHS’s varsity cheer team, explained that the diverse standards of judges can lead to placements that are not reflective of a team’s true execution and efforts.

Said Huh, “I’m sure different judges have different biases, but the important thing is that each judge looks for something different. While you can impress one judge, another might not be as satisfied with the performance.”

Despite the flaws of subjective judging in cheer competitions, facing unfair or prejudiced rulings can motivate teams to train more rigor-

ously. Since placements w i l l likely never be completely accurate,

PRUTHA BHARADWAJ

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

22 | THE PROSPECTOR

Exploring Bharadwaj’s journey as a nationally ranked badminton player

AARON LUC

U

spotlight editor

“

MY DAD USED TO BRING ME TO WATCH MY SISTER PLAY DURING HER PRACTICES, AND WHILE WAITING FOR HER TO FINISH, HE USED TO PLAY WITH ME. PLAYING WITH MY DAD AND HIS FRIENDS MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.

PRUTHA BHARADWAJ

”

in a little more homework before going to bed. For a young athlete, prioritizing sleep is a necessity.

Said Bharadwaj, “I find that taking breaks when needed is important. [...] On days I don’t have practice, I try to use my time efficiently by finishing more work, but also prioritizing rest by taking short naps.”

Despite how much of a commitment it is, Bharadwaj believes that playing badminton is truly rewarding.

“Winning a bronze medal at the Pan-American games has definitely been the most memorable experience. It was my first international tournament, so that itself was a major achievement in my mind, but to win a medal felt even better,” Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj is inspired by badminton professionals such as Tai

Tzu Ying, the women’s singles silver medalist in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is also extremely grateful for her coaches and supporters.

“My coaches have definitely shaped my journey, and I wouldn’t [be] here without them. They taught me work ethic and how to problem solve, as well as how to play badminton,” Bharadwaj said.

Bharadwaj’s love for the sport empowers her even in the toughest, most high-stakes situations.

“I make sure I warm up well and talk to myself. I have to remind myself of all the hardships I faced at practice and keep telling myself that I just have to try my best. If I start worrying about the outcome, I put unnecessary stress on myself, making it harder to play,” Bharadwaj said.

Today, Bharadwaj’s goals and aspirations continue to grow. She hopes to qualify for her second Pan-American Championship and win more tournaments for Cupertino at both a regional and state level.

Although Bharadwaj has faced countless challenges throughout her journey, she stays positive, as she loves her sport and would not trade it for anything.

Said Bharadwaj, “Work hard, but at the same time, don’t get too competitive. By only focusing on competing, you forget to have fun, which is the main reason you started the sport in the first place.

Enjoy the time you have on court and with your teammates, as they are the people you are likely to be friends with forever”

SPORTS | 23

nder the bright stadium lights, Prutha Bharadwaj grips her racket, eyes locked on the shuttlecock as it soars towards her. With a swift smash, she sends it flying past her opponent.

At just 16 years old, Cupertino High School junior Prutha Bharadwaj is already playing badminton on the world stage. Ranked top 20 in the entire country for her age group, Bharadwaj has played for the United States, contributing to the team earning a bronze medal at the 2022 Pan American Championships. Her skills have also helped Cupertino place high in many badminton tournaments — she placed fourth at the Central Coast Section finals in freshman year and brought home fifth place in sophomore year.

Bharadwaj was introduced to badminton early in her childhood and quickly developed a passion for both playing and watching the sport.

“My dad used to bring me to watch my sister play during her practices, and while waiting for her to finish, he used to play with me. Playing with my dad and his friends made me fall in love with the sport,” Bharadwaj said. From then on, she continued to practice consistently in pursuit of greatness.

At such a young age, Bharadwaj’s skills are nothing short of astonishing.

However, they come with a cost.

Throughout her childhood, she often had to make sacrifices to pri-

oritize her training.

“Some of the biggest challenges were missing out on birthday parties, hanging out with friends or even taking vacations. I had to remind myself that I had different goals and going to practice was more important,” Bharadwaj said.

Additionally, Bharadwaj faces struggles with a loaded schedule.

On a typical day, she wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to finish her homework.

After school, she immediately has badminton practice until nighttime, where she squeezes

LIFESTYLES

The Normalization Examining the rise of all-nighter culture and the

ANGELA KIM, KATIE MAK online opinions editor | sports editor

24 | DESIGNED BY ATRISA RAHGOZAR

W

hen did exhaustion become a flex? From students finishing last-minute essays to studying for exams all night, pulling all-nighters has become a cultural norm.

But what is the cost in terms of a student’s health and well-being?

In today’s world, exhaustion has become a badge of honor. Students often brag about pulling all-nighters to finish essays or cram for exams, wearing their lack of sleep like a medal. This so-called “grindset” lifestyle promotes the idea that success is achieved from sacrificing sleep. The mindset shifts

the focus from genuine hard work to performative success, prioritizing appearances over actual effort. This lifestyle also influences the idea that it is not important to have a strong w o r k ethic or work harde r , prioritizing proving “success” to others through little effort.

Oftentimes, many students feel a sense of pride after staying up all night, as if they have accomplished something extraordinary. The notion that pushing through exhaustion makes someone more dedicated or hardworking is present everywhere — from social media to casual conversations in the school hallways.

“There’s only so many hours in the day and if you’ve got extracurricular activities and family things or work, it doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for studying. So if the temptation is to really get the grade you want, or to really understand the material to the point where you’ll

be able to do well on a test, then more is better,” Cupertino High School’s school-based therapist Denise Salin said.

However, not only is this mindset emotionally unhealthy for teenagers, it also disregards the serious health consequences of sleep

deprivation. Because all-nighters have become increasingly common among students, it is vital to understand both the immediate and long-term effects that sleep deprivation brings.

of All-Nighters real cost of prolonged sleep loss

“There’s all the side effects of not getting enough sleep, it impacts your memory, your concentration, your focus. We also know that chronic loss of sleep can lead to physical problems, like increased blood pressure, heart disease [...] and anxiety or

Johns Hopkins pediatrician Michael Crocetti, M.D., M.P.H. — students begin to see the impacts of sleep deprivation in day-to-day actions, such as reading an excerpt or paying attention in class.

“A lot of times, students won’t tie it to sleep, but they’ll come in and say [...] ‘I don’t know why I can’t concentrate.’

I’m rereading the same paragraph time and time again [...] or I find that I’m dents to sitting in class and all of a shift their sudden I don’t know what focus towards the teacher is saying, and healthier habI don’t know what we’ve its, such as t i m e been doing for the last 15 management and prioritizing rest, minutes. [...] The more I talk ultimately striving towards an imwith students, we can trace proved lifestyle. After all, success a lot of it back to not get- is not about how little sleep one ting enough gets, but how productively one sleep,” Salin works while maintaining well-besaid. ing and health.

In addition, consisA LOT O FT tent sleep loss TO SLEE IMES, STUDEN TS WON P, BUT T HE ’T TIE IT from all-nightYOU KN OW, GOS Y’LL COME IN AND SA H, [...] I I CAN’T ers contribY, DON’T K CONCEN NOW WH TRATE. TALK W utes to burnY [...] THE ITH STU DE MORE I LOT OF out, a state IT BACK NTS, WE CAN T T R O S ACE A L N E OT GETT EP. of physiING ENO UGH DENISE cal and STALIN mental exhaustion due to overwork and accumulated The real flex is stress. Studies show that less than not pulling all-nighters — it six hours of sleep a night is a key is learning to balance work and contributor to burnout. sleep effectively that should be Instead of celebrating sleep admired deprivation, it is crucial for stu-

“

”

LIFESTYLES | 25

depression,” Salin said.

Sleep is crucial for the brain development and emotional regulation of teenagers. Without the recommended nightly nine to 9.5 hours of sleep — according to

The Evolution of Love So

Exploring how love song dynamics have drastically shifted and the impact this has on listeners NIMRIT GANDHI

F

26 | THE PROSPECTOR

social media manager

rom cute and heartfelt love songs that encapsulate true feelings of admiration to songs coded with insincerit y and inappropriate lyrics, love songs have undergone a drastic change over the years.

Love ballads have gone off the rails, shifting younger audiences’ perspectives on romance and sexual behavior.

Songs such as “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley are classics known for their profound romantic expression. These songs were sung with pure sincerity and adoration, stemming straight from the heart. One famous line from Presley’s song is, “Take my hand, take my whole life too, for I can’t help falling in love with you.”

However, as artists started to change their style of music around the 1960s, sexually explicit songs became more prevalent in an attempt to appeal to the interests of younger audiences. According to a report by the American Psychological Association divisions, song lyrics in 2009 were three times more likely to contain sexually explicit lyrics than in 1959. Genres such as rap and hip-hop that tend to portray explicit themes have replaced the sincerity that old love songs used to portray, growing in popularity and topping the charts over time. Explicit songs have in-

creased by a shocking 883% since 2001, according to a study conducted by Mark Bannister using Spotify Application Programming Interface data. Additionally, about 40% of the top Billboard songs contain sexual lyrics, demonstrating how explicit songs have overrun the charts. Some artists who have followed this trend and gone from profound l o v e songs t o synthetic ones a r e Bruno

“

I THINK THE DANGER IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SAY, ‘OH, MY RELATIONSHIP IS SUPPOSED TO BE TOXIC. I’M SUPPOSED TO BE UNHAPPY HALF OF THE TIME.’

JESSE WASHINGTON

”

Mars, Sam Smith and Sabrina Carpenter. This newer style of music that has become more popular over the years lacks the tone of endearment that love songs used to

portray. Examples of newer songs that reflect this drastic change are “Juno” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Unholy” by Sam Smith.

This type of music spreads quickly through social media, exposing younger audiences to sexually explicit lyrics and videos. This exposure is associated with increasing sexual attitudes and intentions

among

young adults.

Additionally, s u c h exposure to inappropriate music can increase the likelihood of early sexual activity. These effects can be severely detrimental to adolescents’ perceptions of romance, as the true value of love is easily neglected and overlooked. However, turning towards sexually coded music runs deeper than trying to appeal to the interests of younger audiences. Especially among women, talk of sexual activity was often shamed — a barrier that music was able to overcome by

ngs in the Music Industry normalizing such topics in songs.

Directing music towards explicitly coded lyrics helped normalize societal norms and expectations that revolved around sexual ideals. It promoted a form of authentic self expression as a way of breaking free from the shame that was associated with women and sexual activity, holding positive and empowering influence to listeners.

Music is an influential source that people have used to navigate the world and form opinions for decades.

However, this influe n c e can often have a negative impact — lots of newer, more explicit music promotes the n o r malization of toxic relationships. Genuine lyrics about fondness and adoration are rarely found in the love song genre, and instead the negative aspects of relationships are honed on.

Said writer Jesse Washington on National Public Radio, “I

remember how much [music] affected me. What is normal? What is acceptable? I think the danger is for young people to say, ‘Oh, my relationship is supposed to be toxic. I’m supposed to be unhappy half of the time.’ I took a quick spin through the current Billboard top 100, and it’s just more of the same.”

Music has a large impact on listeners, and gaining exposure to unhealthy topics discussed in songs may shape Gen Z’s dating behaviors. This can drastically alter communication and relationship styles. According to an article by News Medical, exposure to sexual music lyrics is tied to risky sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancies and a higher risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection in adolescence. Additionally, synthetic and hollow ideals such as casual relationships and talking stages are often normalized in love songs, which may be linked to the prominence that

they hold in younger generations.

Rather than

promoti n g the values of commitment and loyalty that love songs used to focus on, the dynamics of love songs have drastically evolved, affecting young p e o ple’s perceptions of romance and their behavior in relationships.namics of love songs have drastically evolved, affecting young peop l e ’ s perceptions of romance and their behavioral approach to relationships

LIFESTYLES | 27

POSTSCRIPT

PROSPECTOR STAFFERS

28 | DESIGNED BY CATHY WU

Which flower represents each Prospector staffer the most?

Aaron

Miya

Ashley

Laura

Saba

Scarlett

Victoria

Rebecca

Joe

Amrita

Katie K

Celine

Joyce

Angela

Hailey

Rosa

Evelyn

Shaona

Noah

Nimrit

Yeechen

Cathy

Chloe

Zain

x

AS FLOWERS

SHAMROCK SCAVENGER HUNT

Did you find all six hidden shamrocks in the magazine?

Atrisa

Anshika

NEWS

Mason

Nitya

OPINIONS LIFESTYLES

Madalina

Nikhil

SPORTS INVESTIGATIONS

Ben

Brian

Katie M

FEATURES POSTSCRIPT | 29 POSTSCRIPT | 27

Alex

30 | THE PROSPECTOR

Redefining success and purpose as a generalist in an environment that values specialists

JACK OF ALL TRADES BENJAMIN LIU

“J writer

a knack for self-learning.

It’s impossible to connect the dots looking forward — only in hindsight do they reveal their intersections. But every skill we pick up, every challenge we take, and every perspective we gain will blend into a big picture that would only make sense looking back, despite how random they seem in the present. For the longest time, I thought success was to be the best at one thing. But after jumping around different interests, I’ve realized success is also about connecting different ideas and creating something new. My journey won’t look like everyone else’s, and that’s the whole point.

“A jack of all trades is a master of none.” At the time, My water polo coaches’ words stuck with me. But months later, I came across the full version of the quote: “A jack of all trades is a master of none… but oftentimes better than a master of one.”

I believe that. I used to feel like I was endlessly treading water, surrounded by possibilities yet unable to reach solid ground.

But I’ve come to realize that I was never meant to stay in one place — I was meant to swim. The ocean that once felt overwhelming now feels like an open horizon. I now embrace every current, knowing that each stroke forward shapes who I am. I’m not going to stay afloat, instead, I’ll keep moving, charting my own course

POSTSCRIPT | 31

ack of all trades, master of none,” my coach said. I felt adrift, not just from the two grueling hours of water polo swim conditioning, but from something deeper.

It was as if I was endlessly treading through an ocean teeming with life, yet never able to pause, rest, or reach solid ground.

And I was drained.

Throughout my childhood, I’ve dabled in seemingly random activities—roller skating, chess, painting, calligraphy — never staying in one place for too long. I carried this habit into high school, feeling that there is so much that I’m interested in. I dive in, get decent, then move on. Yet, I sometimes wonder, will not being the best at one thing hold me back?

As my workload increased, I had to drop many activities, yet quitting always made me feel like a failure. However, I never stopped exploring new interests, but each switch came with a reality check as society pushed us to fit into a single mold as early as possible. With college admissions looming over me like a constant shadow, I’ve always felt the pressure to define myself and struggled to stand out with my efforts spread thin across many interests. I kept asking: Why do I matter? Who am I? I was envious of those with flashy achievements in one specific field and regretted my decision not to stick to one.

Despite the initial struggle, I’ve come to notice the advantages of being a generalist. My ability to draw from diverse experiences has allowed me to merge disciplines in

unexpected ways.

For example, while creating a digital animation campaign for a drone business model, I blended my past hobbies. My interest in film helped me craft an engaging story and scenery, while my background in 3D modeling and engineering enabled me to create realistic drone models. Even my love for anime played a role, allowing me to select an exhilarating soundtrack that heightened the ad’s emotional impact.

My experiences in journalism, art, leadership and game design have also intersected in unexpected ways, especially while leading my special-needs Scout troop.

One example was a mural project I led, where my painting skills shaped the design, and interactive games kept the scouts on the autism spectrum engaged. Later, I used my journalism skills to raise awareness by publishing an article about the project.

Although blending these different fields felt so natural when doing it, I would never have imagined their real-world application.

As I considered my perspective, I saw it as a stained-glass window, with each life experience adding a unique piece of colored glass.

Some mosaics have fewer pieces, shining brightly in one area, while others are intricate, spreading light in many directions. We often fear that the light our window casts is not as bright as others, but all of us cast a different shade. It is precisely the differences in shades that truly matter, as they are the unique perspectives and ideas we each contribute that come together to illuminate the world’s future.

Sometimes, how brightly each of us shines is simply a matter of time.

Some might call a generalist a weakness, a lack of depth. But I’ve grown to see it as my greatest strength. I’ve built a broad knowledge base, an ability to adapt and

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